Red Funnel's new high-speed ferry will be inaugurated on the Isle of Wight on 24 July 2018
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is to christen Red Funnel’s new high-speed passenger ferry, Red Jet 7, during a ceremony in Cowes, Isle of Wight on 24 July.
Built at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes, Red Jet 7 will be named at Trinity Landing and invited guests will then celebrate with a lunch at the Royal Yacht Squadron. Members of the public can watch from Cowes Parade and book tickets for a short excursion onboard Red Jet 7, with all the proceeds going to Red Funnel’s 2018 Charity of the Year.
“We are absolutely delighted that HRH The Duchess of Cornwall has agreed to name Red Jet 7 on 24th July,” said Kevin George, Red Funnel’s chairman.
The £7 million (US$9.4 million), 275-seat Red Jet 7 was built as a sister to Red Jet 6, which was also constructed by Wight Shipyard Co and christened by HRH The Princess Royal in July 2016.
The newbuild is powered by generators and four main MTU 2000 series diesel engines, which will minimise fuel consumption and ensure emissions meet International Maritime Organization Tier II regulations. This will make Red Jet 7 one of the greenest ships in Red Funnel’s fleet. In addition, the vessel will have Hamilton DRP-500QD waterjet units, rather than propellers, to aid manoeuvrability and improve stopping power.